He's back! Superstar Sylvester Stallone is John Rambo, the ultimate action hero, in this explosive Oscar-nominated sequel to First Blood that boasts a riveting screenplay by Stallone and James Cameron (Titanic). Although the Vietnam War is officially over, Rambo remains the perfect fighting machine. But his survival skills are tested with a vengeance on a top-secret mission that takes him back to the jungles of Vietnam in search of American POW's.
The story continues of a young man's rites of passage, aided by the knowledge and guidance of his Japanese mentor, who teaches him valuable lessons in life through karate and meditation. In this sequel, Daniel and Miyagi travel to Okinawa and encounter more emotionally charged adventures. Literally picking up about five minutes after the conclusion of the 1984 The Karate Kid, the sequel, also directed by John G.
John G. Avildsen not only directed Rocky, he tried remaking it over the years in a dozen different ways. One of them was this popular 1984 drama about a new kid (Ralph Macchio) in town targeted by karate-wielding bullies until he gets a new mentor: the handyman (Pat Morita) from his apartment building, who teaches him self-confidence and fighting skills. The screen partnership of Macchio's motor-mouth character and Morita's reserved father figure works well, and the script allows for the younger man to develop sympathy for the painful memories of his teacher.
Kreese, the ex-marine whom Miyagi humbled with a few punches and kicks, has never forgotten the bitter taste of defeat. Bankrupt after the first tournament defeat, he's back with a particularly nasty friend and a new trainer--and he's aching to lure Miyagi and Daniel into the fight of their lives. When Daniel decides not to compete in the challenge, he becomes the target of numerous attacks by Kreese and his villainous friends, who will stop at nothing to win the title back.
